China’s most outrageous new hypercar has already brushed up against the outer limits of physics, and now it has handed the keys to Richard Hammond. Last year, the YangWang U9 Xtreme went faster than any production car before it, recording a one-way top speed of 308.4 mph or 496.22 km/h at the ATP Papenburg high-speed oval in Germany.

Because the run was completed in only one direction, however, SSC’s Tuatara technically still retains the official two-way average production car record at 282.9 mph (455.3 km/h).

Even so, it was a headline-grabbing run that instantly placed BYD’s halo car in rare company. Keen to showcase that achievement to a broader audience, BYD recently invited Richard Hammond to become the first Western journalist to drive the car. The result makes for compelling viewing.

Read: China’s YangWang U9 Smashed Bugatti’s Speed Record But Still Isn’t Officially The World’s Fastest Car

As Hammond admits in his latest DriveTribe video, he doesn’t exactly have the greatest reputation when it comes to driving extremely fast, ultra-powerful cars. In 2017, he crashed the all-electric 1,224 hp Rimac Concept One while filming The Grand Tour. Back in 2006, he was seriously injured after crashing a dragster on the set of Top Gear.

BYD obviously put a lot of faith in him to keep the U9 Xtreme in one piece, particularly given that this four-motor electric beast delivers a maximum of 2,978 hp, more than any other production car.

Rather than driving it on the road, Hammond was able to put it through its paces on a racetrack. Understandably, he appears to take things quite easily, which is hardly a surprise given that a BYD test driver spun up the car’s wheels the day prior and crashed into a barrier. It would seem as though having almost 3,000 hp under your right foot requires a lot of care. Who would have thought?

Hammond Tests Xiaomi Too

Interestingly, this isn’t the only recent video that Hammond has made in China. Late last year, he joined what could best be described as the Chinese version of Top Gear, alongside three hosts for a road trip. In this video, he drove three of China’s most impressive new EVs: the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, the ‘regular’ YangWang U9, and the luxurious Maextro S800.

The clip was originally shared only on Chinese social media but has since been translated and uploaded to YouTube for our viewing pleasure. It’s well worth a watch.

Screenshot Drivetribe/YouTube

Porsche introduced the Cayenne Electric last November and the lineup will soon be expanded to include a crossover coupe. Spy photographers have snapped the model on multiple occasions, but now they’ve gotten a glimpse at the range-topping variant.

Tentatively dubbed the Cayenne Coupe Turbo GT Electric, the model follows in the footsteps of the regular Cayenne Turbo Electric. As a result, we can see a familiar front fascia with slender Matrix Design headlights as well as an active lower intake.

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While the front end is familiar, the profile has a rakish windscreen that flows into a steeply sloping roof. They’re joined by a shrunken greenhouse, plastic body cladding, and five-spoke wheels that are backed up by a high-performance braking system with ventilated discs as well as sizable calipers.

More: 1,139 HP Cayenne Electric Is Porsche’s Most Powerful Road Car Ever

The rear end is epitomized by an angular rear window and an upright liftgate. While this carries over from the standard coupe, the performance variant is notable for sporting a fixed rear wing. Further below, we can see a familiar bumper that echoes the regular model.

Spy photographers did not get a look inside, but do not expect any surprises, as it is unlikely to stray far from the standard Cayenne Electric. That means a 14.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a curved OLED infotainment system, and an optional 14.9-inch front passenger display should all make an appearance.

They should be joined by an augmented reality head-up display, an ambient lighting system, and a heating system that warms the seats as well as the armrests and door panels.

Electric Hyper Performance

The Cayenne Turbo Electric has a 113 kWh battery pack and a dual-motor all-wheel drive system that normally develops 844 hp (630 kW / 857 PS). However, that number soars to 1,139 hp (850 kW / 1,156 PS) and 1,106 lb-ft (1,498 Nm) of torque when Launch Control is activated. This enables the crossover to rocket from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 2.4 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 162 mph (261 km/h).

Assuming this is indeed a Coupe Turbo GT prototype, the model should be even quicker and more powerful. This suggests we can expect a steep price tag as the Cayenne Turbo Electric starts at $163,000, while the gas-powered Cayenne Turbo GT begins at $214,800.

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The new Toyota bZ Woodland arrives at a complicated moment for electric SUVs. Conceptualized and likely sent into a production cycle with federal tax credits in mind, the electric crossover is here without those credits to rely on. On top of that, its near identical Subaru twin, the Trailseeker, costs thousands less. Now, Toyota is putting discounts of up to $6,500 on its brand-new electric model to sweeten the deal.

According to Cars.com, the deals aren’t exactly hidden or subtle, either. Buyers can score $5,000 in customer cash, lessees get $6,500 in lease cash, and those with pristine credit can opt for 0% APR for 72 months plus $3,500 cash back. Not bad for a model that effectively just arrived on dealer lots.

How Do The Incentives Work?

Here’s how it breaks down. The $5,000 customer cash incentive functions like a rebate and lowers the price or amount financed. The $6,500 lease cash deal reduces the capitalized cost of the lease, which means lower monthly payments. The $3,500 cash back deal with 0 percent APR is exactly what it sounds like. A discount on the price and no interest on payments for six years. All deals expire on March 2nd.

Review: 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland Is Quicker Than A GR Corolla, But That’s Not Its Real Trick

With pricing starting at $46,750 (including $1,450 destination) and climbing to $48,850 for the Premium, Toyota clearly felt some pressure to keep this wagon-like EV competitive in a cooling segment. These deals should help, considering that the bZ Woodland seems incredibly similar to Subaru’s Trailseeker.

Pricing Pressure From Subaru

For its part, the Trailseeker starts at $39,995 before destination, and that’s without discounts. So even with $5,000 on the hood, the Toyota still plays in a higher price bracket. That means the Woodland’s biggest advantage may come down to brand loyalty, dealer networks, and whether buyers prefer Toyota’s design and packaging.

First Drive: The 2026 Toyota C-HR Refuses To Grow Up And Goes All-In On EV Thrills 

Again, Toyota probably cooked up this car when it thought the $7,500 federal EV subsidies would still exist at launch. With that in mind, this feels like an almost necessary move to keep the car moving off dealer lots.

Rivian is gearing up to introduce the R2 next month and the company is preparing for its arrival by announcing plans to open dozens of new service centers. This should help the company deal with the influx of new customers caused by the roughly $45,000 EV.

While the automaker didn’t give firm numbers, they said more than 50 new service centers are scheduled to open through next year. This will push the total number of facilities past the 150 mark.

More: Rivian Owner’s Quality And Service Nightmares Expose The Pain Of Being A ‘Beta Tester’

Rivian didn’t say where these centers will be located, but confirmed “multiple locations and larger sites” with higher capacities are planned for markets where their vehicles are popular. On the flip side, in remote areas, the company will focus on mobile service.

Speaking of mobile support, Rivian plans to increase its fleet of service vans by 50% this year. The company noted this is what customers prefer and they’ll be “enhancing onboard tools and technician training so we can perform more services remotely, including routine maintenance like tire rotations.”

More: That Rivian Bumper Tap Didn’t Look Like An $11,000 Oopsie, But Here We Are

The company has also hired and trained more than 1,000 service specialists in the past year and that practice will continue. This has reportedly resulted in a 35% reduction in wait times for service.

Software Updates

In other Rivian news, the company recently announced a handful of software updates including a new Apple Watch app. It enables users to lock and unlock doors, vent the windows, and adjust the climate control system – among other things.

The automaker also updated software in Gen 1 Quad-Motor as well as Gen 1 and 2 Dual-Motor R1s. Thanks to the change, Sport Mode now has a higher ride height option known as Standard. The company also extended Sport mode to Dual-Motor variants, which “unlocks optimized power delivery and quicker acceleration.”

Other highlights include Launch Mode as well as a “Lower” setting, which reduces the ride height by about an inch to ease entry and egress. There’s also a new cold weather indicator that shows “exactly how much energy is being used to keep your battery warm.” It will also show how much range is “temporarily unavailable until the [battery] pack reaches its optimal operating temperature.”

Mazda has moved on from the niche MX-30 crossover, reshuffling its fully electric lineup in China and select global markets, though not North America, with the 6e sedan and the CX-6e SUV. The two mechanically related EVs arrived in quick succession, yet a senior Mazda Europe executive says there is a noticeable development gap between them, largely due to the steep learning curve that came with partnering up with Changan.

Christian Schultze, Director of Technology Research at Mazda Europe, explained the process in an interview with AutoRAI. Both models are heavily based on the Deepal L07 sedan and S07 SUV from Changan’s dedicated EV brand, adapted for global markets under the Mazda joint venture.

Bridging Cultures Through Engineering

So what actually separates the Mazda 6e, launched in 2024, from the CX-6e that arrived a year later? According to Schultze, progress came in increments.

More: Mazda Secretly Built A V6 MX-5, Then Killed It Over One Ugly Problem

“I’d say we’ve taken another half-step forward. The 6e was the first joint development with our partner Changan Mazda Automobile for a car that would be sold in Europe. That was a huge learning experience for them, because they had never before developed a car specifically for the European market. It was also a learning experience for us, because we suddenly had to explain much more than we were used to heading into Hiroshima.”

Schultze explained that while the R&D center in Hiroshima works seamlessly with the European team, adding Changan Mazda Automobile changed the dynamic. The shared understanding required for such projects had to be built from the ground up, a process that took more time and effort than Mazda initially expected.

More: New Mazda MX-5 NE Isn’t Going Electric, But It’s Not Staying Pure Either

Despite looking almost identical to the Chinese-spec Mazda EZ-6 sedan and EZ-60 SUV, the European versions had to meet different regulations. That proved challenging for engineers unfamiliar with European requirements.

“When we develop a car together with Hiroshima, we essentially already get about 98 percent of what we’re looking for. Then it’s mainly just fine-tuning here and there. With Changan Mazda Automobile, we had to go much further back to basics,” he said.

“For example, they had never created a setup for European radar systems. We had to explain the requirements and why they were important. What we appreciated was how quickly they responded and how willing they were to understand. But we first have to convey that understanding.”

The SUV Is More Mature

Despite the early hurdles, the knowledge gained from the 6e program helped Mazda refine the CX-6e.

Schultze noted that the SUV’s electric motor is a “further development,” offering “greater efficiency and a higher continuous power output” than the sedan. That fits with Mazda’s philosophy of making each new model incrementally better.

More: Mazda’s Rotary Sports Coupe Plan Faces A Roadblock It Can’t Engineer Around

The Mazda 6e sedan currently sold in mainland Europe and the UK produces 255 hp (190 kW / 258 PS) in Standard Range form and 241 hp (180 kW / 245 PS) in Long Range trim. The CX-6e retains the higher output with the larger 80 kWh battery.

Lessons Beyond One Platform

Schultze confirmed that R&D lessons from the Changan joint venture will influence future EVs built on Mazda-developed architecture.

“We’re pursuing a strategy where we collaborate with partners, for example, in the field of electric vehicles, and develop our own electric models. Our roadmap shows that one of the next EVs will be based on a fully Mazda-owned platform. Moreover, our insights are growing every day, thanks in part to market feedback. For example, we learned a lot from the reactions to the Mazda 3, and those insights have been incorporated into our internal objectives. The same applies to the lessons we’re learning from the CX-6e.”

More: This SUV Just Did Something Only Two Other Mazdas In History Have Ever Done

He also highlighted how modern technology allows continuous improvement without waiting for a facelift or full generational change.

“The great advantage of today’s world is that many systems are digital or electronic. This means we can implement improvements even during ongoing production. In the past, in the purely mechanical world, if a switch felt too heavy, it would stay that way for four years until the next model change. Fortunately, those days are behind us.”

Land Rover is not only working on a smaller Defender, but it is also dusting off the Freelander badge for something altogether more targeted. This time, the name returns on an all-new, rugged SUV built specifically for China, and if these spy shot-based renderings are on the money, it will not be shy about looking the part.

The project is being handled by the Chery Jaguar Land Rover joint venture, better known as CJLR. Underneath, the new Freelander will sit on Chery’s existing T1X platform, which already underpins various Jaecoo, Omoda, and Chery SUVs. In plain terms, that means lower development costs and a much quicker route to market. Reinventing the wheel is expensive. Borrowing one from the parts bin is not.

Read: The Freelander’s Back As Its Own Brand And It’s Launching Soon

Interestingly, Land Rover won’t simply revive the Freelander name for a single model. Instead, it is spinning the name into its own sub-brand, with the potential to spawn several models over time. The first of these SUVs has been spied testing under heavy camouflage, leading to these detailed renderings from Nikita Chuyko for Kolesa.

Does It Pass The Land Rover Test?

Based on recent spy shots, the first Freelander looks reassuringly boxy, exactly what you would expect from something wearing a Land Rover badge. Up front, it appears to feature slim headlights with simple DRLs, flanked by blacked-out split grilles and capped off with a hood that carries a noticeable bulge.

Similarities could also be shared with the larger Defender, particularly with the smooth profile of the side doors and the blacked-out roof and pillars. Like the previous Freelander, this new model features angled C-pillars painted in the same shade as the lower body.

The rear styling may prove more divisive. The renderings show small taillights mounted just above the bumper, which gives the back end a slightly awkward stance. Here’s hoping the lights of the eventual production model are positioned a little higher on the fascia. If not, it risks drifting into the same visual territory that has drawn mixed reactions for the current Hyundai Santa Fe.

Technical details about the new Freelander have not been confirmed, but it’s expected to be offered in both battery-electric and EREV guises. Production will be handled by the CJLR plant in Changshu.

Spy Shots: Chery-JLR Freelander SUV for China

Freelander is a new brand under Chery-JLR. The Chinese name is 神行者 (Shén Xíngzhě). Freelander will manufacture various SUVs based on Chery platforms.

The spy shots show a boxy off-road-style SUV during winter tests in Northern… pic.twitter.com/IduwHRG5vw

— Tycho de Feijter (@TychodeFeijter) February 1, 2026

Europe’s new car market didn’t exactly start the 2026 race in a flurry of smokey wheelspins. Registrations across the EU, UK, and EFTA slipped 3.5 percent year-on-year to 961,382 units in January. But beneath that soggy headline number, one brand was busy throwing its own party.

And it wasn’t Tesla. Across the EU, UK, and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) regions combined, Tesla registrations dropped 17.0 percent to 8,075 cars in January. That left the American EV giant with a 0.8 percent market share, down from 1.0 percent a year earlier, according to data from industry body ACEA.

It was also Tesla’s 13th consecutive month of declining sales in Europe, a reminder that this is no short-lived dip.

Also: Tesla’s Sales Collapsed By Nearly 90% In The Land Of EVs

BYD, meanwhile, went into overdrive with its mix of EVs and hybrids. The Chinese brand shifted 18,242 cars across the same region, an impressive increase of 165.0 percent year-on-year (175 percent in the EU alone), and its share climbed to 1.9 percent, more than double Tesla’s slice of the pie.

Dacia’s Fall From Glory

Tesla was far from the only automaker to take a beating in January. Renault Group also had a bruising month, its sales falling 15.0 percent to 83,201 units. That is a slide not too far off Tesla’s in percentage terms, though the Renault brand itself was up 4.4 percent. It was Renault-owned Dacia’s disastrous 35 percent drop that ruined the overall picture.

BMW (down 8.7 percent) and the VW brand (down 11.2 percent) were also left licking their wounds, while sister companies Mini (up 11.2 percent) and Skoda (up 10.1 percent) gleefully rubbed salt in them.

One In Five Cars Now An EV

On the powertrain front, the shift to electrification keeps gathering pace. Sales of battery electric cars climbed 13.9 percent, meaning they now account for 19.3 percent of the EU market in January, up from 14.9 percent a year earlier. And plug-in hybrids climbed 32.2 percent while petrol registrations plunged 25.7 percent and diesel slid 22.0 percent.

Country by country, the picture was mixed. Germany and France both saw total registrations fall 6.6 percent, but their EV registrations jumped by 23.8 and 52.1 percent, respectively. And Norway, always an EV bellwether, endured a dramatic 76.3 percent drop in overall registrations, mostly due to the end of government incentives.

European Car Sales

ACEA: Figures for EU + UK + EFTA

The battery world is hardly lacking in ambition, but it remains controlled by a tight circle of Chinese and Korean heavyweights. When Finnish startup Donut Lab claimed earlier this year that it had developed the world’s first all-solid-state battery for vehicles, it was never going to land quietly.

Donut Lab says it has built what many consider the holy grail of batteries. It claims the pack can charge faster than anything else on the market, delivers 400 Wh/kg of energy density, and is good for 100,000 cycles. Predictably, that raised questions.

Industry experts pushed back hard, which led Donut Lab to team up with Finland’s VTT Technical Research Center to demonstrate just how quickly its battery can actually charge.

Read: Verge Fixed The Two Biggest Electric Motorcycle Problems At Once

In a newly released video, Donut Lab sets out to show the charging speed and thermal stability of its latest battery. The headline figure is a claimed charge rate of up to 11C (286A), which, if sustainable, would put it in rare company.

Cooling Reality Check

In the 11C charging test, the battery cell charged from 0 to 80 percent in just 4.5 minutes when equipped with two heatsinks. A full charge at 11C took just over 7 minutes. During this test, the battery temperature reached 63°C (145°F). In a separate test with just one aluminum heat sink, the temperature rose to 90°C (194°F), prompting a pause for 4 minutes while the battery cooled.

As noted by Electrek, Donut Lab claimed its battery required no active cooling to safely achieve its extraordinary charging speeds. However, this test suggests that some level of thermal management is necessary. Even so, the charging speeds are impressive, particularly for a company of this size.

According to Donut Lab chief executive Vile Piippo, “unlike other solid-state batteries requiring high compressive pressures and undergoing volume changes of up to 15-20 per cent during recharging cycles, the Donut Battery does not require special compression or more extensive cooling.”

Hitting Back At Critics

The company published the results of its fast-charging test on a new website, dubbed “iDonutBelieve,” in a thinly veiled swipe at those who said the firm was exaggerating its claims. It is promising that the results of another test will be released next week, with the aim of proving the pack’s energy density and 100,000-cycle claim.

The first vehicle to use the Donut Lab solid-state battery is an all-electric motorcycle from Verge. Dubbed the TS Pro, it’s set to arrive in the first quarter and will be offered with 20.2 and 33.3 kWh packs.

It is not only Tesla that struggles to turn a halo roadster into reality. The production version of Polestar’s stunning, two-door 02 Concept, known as the 6, was supposed to hit the market later this year. That’s no longer happening, and those who have already placed an order will have to wait until at least 2029 to take delivery.

Polestar, like many other young car manufacturers, has ambitions for a massive family of models, but it remains a relatively small player in the burgeoning, ultra-competitive EV market. With this in mind, the firm has put the Polestar 6 on the back burner for now, allowing it to prioritize the updated 2 and its next all-new product, the Polestar 7 small SUV.

Read: Polestar Boss Says It’s Time To Outrun BMW M And Mercedes-AMG

While speaking with Auto Express at a recent company event in Gothenburg, Sweden, Polestar chief executive Michael Loscheller described the Polestar 6 as a “small volume” product, meaning customers will have to wait.

“We are targeting the big-profit potential of segments and that’s what we should have done in the first place,” he revealed. “We are working on the 6 as a high-end product. The 6 is still in the plan, but plans can change.”

The Next Tesla Roadster?

Delays like this aren’t uncommon in the automotive industry, but Polestar seems to be following the unfortunate lead of Tesla in this case. It’s been over eight years since the second-generation Tesla Roadster was unveiled, and those who placed $50,000 deposits have yet to receive their cars.

Similarly, Polestar began accepting $25,000 deposits for the limited-run 6 LA Concept, capped at just 500 units, in 2022 with the promise of launching it in 2026. Those who have locked in an order will now be waiting at least seven years for their car, and that’s only if the 2029 timeline doesn’t blow out further.

Just like the Polestar 5, the new 6 will be based around an 800-volt electric architecture and a 112 kWh battery pack. The flagship Polestar 5 Performance pairs this with two electric motors delivering 872 hp and 749 lb-ft (1,015 Nm), the same figures expected for the 6.

Stellantis has confirmed a new performance version of the Opel and Vauxhall Corsa subcompact hatchback. It will wear the GSE badge, effectively reviving the spirit of the long-retired Vauxhall Corsa VXR and its Opel Corsa OPC twin, only this time with electrons instead of petrol.

So far, the company has released a single teaser image of the upcoming hot hatch, zoomed tightly on the front wheel. The car wears a camouflage wrap featuring Corsa and GSE lettering, along with black, yellow, and white graphics. The 18-inch alloy wheels have a distinctive three-spoke design, with yellow brake calipers visible behind them.

More: The First Electric GTI Isn’t From VW

The body panels appear largely unchanged from the current-generation Corsa introduced in 2019 and updated in 2023. The GSE does gain additional cladding around the wheel arches, echoing the treatment seen on the new Peugeot E-208 GTI.

Expect redesigned bumpers and a few sharper details borrowed from the unhinged Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo concept. Whether it also gains a slimmer Vizor grille with updated LEDs is still anyone’s guess, but it would hardly be a surprise.

Shared Underpinnings

Stellantis is keeping the hard numbers quiet for now, yet the safe money says the Corsa GSE will share its hardware with the Mokka GSE subcompact SUV. That puts it in the same technical family as the Abarth 600e, Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, Peugeot E-208 GTI, and Lancia Ypsilon HF.

More: One Lancia Ypsilon HF Is Fast The Other Just Pretends

Like those cars, it is expected to use a front-mounted electric motor producing 278 hp (207 kW or 280 PS) and 345 Nm (254.5 lb-ft) of torque. A Torsen limited-slip differential, uprated brakes, and a firmer suspension setup complete the package. Power will likely come from the familiar 54 kWh lithium-ion battery, good for an estimated 200-230 miles (322-370 km) of range.

According to Eurig Druce, Managing Director of Vauxhall and the Stellantis UK Group:

“The Corsa GSE will combine small and agile practicality with thrilling, pure electric, motorsport-inspired power and dynamics. Vauxhall has a proud heritage of hot hatches, and we’re excited to now offer customers those same thrills but combined with the electrifying performance and zero emissions in use of these new GSE models.”

More: Opel Corsa Gains Sporty Bits, Lowered Suspension, And More Power By Irmscher

The Opel and Vauxhall Corsa GSE will arrive in Europe and the UK later this year, stepping in as the new flagship of the Corsa lineup above the GS Line. Alongside its Peugeot E-208 GTI and Lancia Ypsilon HF relatives, it will square up against the upcoming VW ID.Polo GTI and the rumored Hyundai Ioniq 3 N.

Another day, another EV recall, and this time it is Volvo’s smallest electric offering in the firing line. The EX30, positioned as the brand’s entry-level EV, is being recalled over a potential fire risk.

While the recall hasn’t been posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration yet, Reuters reports it involves 40,323 vehicles worldwide, including an unspecified number sold in the United States, and will require “replacing modules in the high-voltage battery packs.”

More: Volvo Warns 40 EV Owners To Park Outside Now

Specifics are few and far between, but the recall is said to impact the EX30 Single-Motor Extended Range and Twin-Motor Performance. A spokesperson told the publication the company is reaching out to customers to “advise them of next steps.”

Little is known about the issue at this point, but the problematic batteries were reportedly made by Shandong Geely Sunwoda Power Battery Co. Volvo said the mysterious issue has been addressed and the Geely joint venture will supply them with new battery cells.

It’s unclear what the problem was, but it appears to be related to a high-state of charge. As a result, Volvo is telling customers to limit the battery to a 70 percent charge. This reportedly eliminates the risk of a fire, but parking outside – away from buildings and other vehicles – is probably a good idea.

Volvo’s relative silence isn’t very reassuring, but the company previously recalled 40 EX30s over a fire risk in January. That recall involved 2025 models, which had a high-voltage battery that could short circuit and overheat. This was blamed on a “process deviation,” which could “result in the formation of lithium plating growth.” If this occurs, there could be an internal cell short.

At the time that recall was announced, Volvo didn’t have a fix for the issue. However, it told owners to limit charging to 70% and to park outside, away from structures.

It remains unclear if the two recalls are related, but they’re shaping up to be a huge mess for a company that has heavily invested in EVs. In fact, Reuters estimates the latest recall alone could cost around $195 million.

We’ve seen the outside of the upcoming Audi A2 e-tron plenty of times, but now we finally get a peek inside. And surprise, it looks like Audi raided the new Q3 parts bin for its smallest EV, a car that’s retro in name, but definitely not in nature.

The spy shot reveals a clean, tech-forward cabin that mirrors the latest Audi Q3 revealed last September. There’s the familiar curved digital driver display flowing neatly into a central MMI touchscreen, plus Audi’s chunky, squared-off steering wheel with multi-function controls.

More: Audi’s Updated Q4 Is Coming With Changes You Won’t See At First

Even the controversial new-style column stalks look lifted straight from the Q3, where they made their debut.

If anything, it confirms Audi isn’t treating this as a bargain basement EV. The A2 e-tron might be the baby of the lineup, but inside it still looks properly premium. Expect configurable ambient lighting, sustainable trim options, and Audi’s latest AI-based voice assistant with app integration and streaming services. Level 2 driver assistance tech should also be on the menu.

Older platform

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Underneath, it rides on Volkswagen Group’s familiar 400-volt MEB platform used on countless VW Group models like the VW ID.3 and ID.4 and Audi’s own Q4 e-tron. Single-motor MEB cars are rear-wheel drive, but dual-motor quattro variants will also be available, and yes, whispers of an A2 RS version are already doing the rounds.

The base version is tipped to pack a single front-mounted motor producing 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW), fed by a 63 kWh battery delivering around 250 miles (402 km) of range. Step up the ladder and single-motor outputs could climb past 268 hp (272 PS / 200 kW), with a larger battery offering up to 348 miles (560 km) on the WLTP cycle, and maybe more.

Modern Classic

The A2 name, as you probably know, is a throwback. The original Audi A2 was an aluminium spaceframe oddball that ran from 1999 to 2005 and never really sold in huge numbers, but later gained cult status. Audi skipped the obvious Q2 badge choice this time, reviving A2 instead, reports say, betting on nostalgia with a modern e-tron twist.

Design-wise, the exterior looks noticeably different from the bigger Q4 e-tron, as seen in our recent artist impression. There’s a nod to the original A2 with its upright stance and that split-style rear glass effect, but it’s sharper, wider and more assertive.

Slim daytime running lights sit high, the main lamps are lower in the bumper, and the closed-off grille gives it a confident EV face.

The A2 will effectively replace both the gas-powered A1 hatch and Q2 SUV in Europe, and slot beneath the Q4 e-tron. Key rivals include the Volvo EX30, BMW iX1, Smart #1, Alfa Romeo Junior, and Mini Aceman, so prices should start south of €35,000 (£31,000 / $41,000 ) when sales start next year.

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Back in 2013, Tesla flirted with the idea of battery-swapping for its EVs, even demonstrating a system that could replace a Model S battery in as little as 90 seconds. It was an impressive showpiece, but the company ultimately chose not to commercialize the concept. Nio, meanwhile, saw potential where Tesla stepped back. The Chinese startup embraced battery swapping and went on to build the largest EV battery-swapping network in the world.

Just how popular has Nio’s battery-swap service become? On February 21, Nio owners carried out a staggering 175,976 battery swaps across China in a single day. That figure translates to roughly one Nio having its battery changed every half a second.

Read: This Full-Size Electric SUV Packs 456 HP And Costs Less Than A Honda Civic

This record was set on the second day of the Lunar New Year, typically the busiest travel day of the year in China.

How Wide Is Nio’s Network?

Nio currently operates more than 8,600 charging and battery-swapping stations across China. The network spans more than 550 cities and includes highway routes linking 16 of the country’s major urban centers. The company has also begun rolling out charging stations in Europe.

The Chinese electric car startup is currently on its fourth-generation swapping stations, with the latest version launched in mid-2024. The original stations could store just four to five batteries at a time. In contrast, the fourth-generation sites can hold 23 battery packs and handle up to 480 swaps per day. Each swap takes 2 minutes and 24 seconds, which is less time than refueling a combustion-powered car.

Soon, it will not just be Nio owners pulling into those swap bays. The company has struck agreements with Geely, Chery, FAW, GAC, and Changan to share its battery-swapping technology, opening the network to a much broader slice of China’s car market.

Mercedes’ upcoming baby-G was supposed to be the cute, chunky electric-only gateway into G-Class ownership. But the automotive market is changing fast, and so are Benz’s plans, as it reacts to cooling demand for EVs in some markets, especially for its own electric cars. As a result, the boxy SUV will now come with hybrid power.

More: Mercedes Wants This Baby G-Wagen To Win Buyers The Big One Never Could

Internally nicknamed Little G, Autocar reports, the compact, GLB-sized, two-row off-roader is due in 2027 and will still be available as a pure EV. But a companion hybrid model is now in development, using the turbocharged four-cylinder from the latest Mercedes-Benz CLA sedan.

The change speaks to a wider reset inside Mercedes. The company has stepped back from its earlier EV-only plans, with CEO Ola Källenius confirming it will keep selling combustion models well into the 2030s to stay flexible across different markets. Tepid demand for the electric G-Class has, by most accounts, helped concentrate minds.

Read: Mercedes’ Electric G Flops So Hard It Could Change What Comes Next

The hybridized 1.5-liter unit is designed by Mercedes and built by Horse Powertrain in China, a joint venture involving Geely and Renault. Exactly how much kick it will deliver in the Little G is unknown, but the new CLA 220 hybrid makes 208 hp (211 PS) and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque, and gets to 62 mph (100 kmh) in 7.1 seconds.

In the CLA, the engine is paired with a gearbox-mounted electric motor that allows short periods of engine-off driving.

450-mile Range

Prefer your G a little more refined? The EV variant will reportedly come standard with two motors and all-wheel drive to preserve off-road credibility, Autocar says.

Also: Mercedes’ Smallest SUV Points To A Different Kind Of Compact Future

An 85 kWh NMC battery is tipped to deliver close to 450 miles (724 km) of WLTP range, which would be seriously impressive for something shaped like a luxury brick – it’s not far short of the CLA 350 sedan’s 418-479 miles (672-771 km) figures. The full-size electric G580 with EQ technology, you might recall, is only rated for 280 WLTP miles (450 km).

Regardless of powertrain, the Little G will be sold exclusively with four-wheel drive, and both versions are tipped to feature advanced torque vectoring capable of distributing drive to individual wheels to mirror the off-road ability of the larger G-Class.

Slab Sides

Where the baby G does follow its big brother’s lead, though, is in military-chic charm. Unofficial renders from Nikita Chuyko for Kolesa give us a credible idea of what the finished SUV could look like, showing round headlights, upright glass, three big side windows and a tailgate-mounted spare.

It looks like someone left a G-Class in the dryer too long, and the good news is the slow-selling G580 EV’s $163k price should also shrink, hopefully by around 50 percent.

Unlike many compact crossovers pretending to be rugged, the Little G is said to ride on a bespoke ladder-frame platform rather than sharing underpinnings with Mercedes’ electric GLC or C-Class.

That should help it take on the incoming Land Rover Defender Sport, the Little G’s most natural rival, though that gets a unibody structure. We can’t wait to see them duke it out in the dirt next year.

Baldauf

Lamborghini has officially shelved plans for its first production EV, deciding instead to lean harder into high-performance plug-in hybrids through 2030. In Sant’Agata’s world, electricity is welcome, just so long as it’s boosting a V8 or V12 rather than replacing one.

More: Audi Boss Says TT Successor Is Safe Even As Porsche Faces Doubts

The model in question, previewed by the Lamborghini Lanzador concept in 2023, was supposed to arrive before the end of the decade as a fully electric 2+2 crossover. Instead, it is heading back to the drawing board, if not straight into the history books.

A Strategic Backflip On EVs

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed the EV won’t be joining the production lineup and will instead give way to another plug-in hybrid offering. He also cautioned that going all-in on electric could turn into an “expensive hobby,” noting that the “acceptance curve” for zero-emission tech among Lamborghini’s clientele is “close to zero.” Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Winkelmann went on to say that Lamborghini buyers are still chasing the full “emotional experience,” meaning the styling, the performance, and, crucially, the noise. That, in his view, is something EVs cannot yet replicate in their current form. So for now, combustion engines remain very much on the menu, and will continue to be built “for as long as possible.”

Hybrids Take Priority

The call to axe the project was reportedly made behind closed doors late last year, after extensive talks with customers and dealers, along with a thorough market analysis. In other words, Lamborghini did the homework and did not like what it saw. As Winkelmann put it:

“Investing heavily in full-EV development when the market and customer base are not ready would be an expensive hobby, and financially irresponsible towards shareholders, customers [and] to our employees and their families. Plug-in hybrids offer the best of both worlds, combining the agility and low-rev boost of electric battery technology with the emotion and power output of an internal combustion engine.”

More: Ferrari’s First EV Exterior Is So Radical Even Its Designer Is Nervous About Your Reactions

Pressed by the Sunday Times on whether Lamborghini would ever build a full EV, Winkelmann left the door slightly ajar, albeit with a very firm hand on the handle.

“Never say never, but only when the time is right,” he said. “For the foreseeable future, only PHEVs. We will continue to develop electrification because we also need to be ready. The times we are living in are fast moving; if you don’t react fast, you risk going out of business or losing momentum. Therefore we need a solid financial base to reinvest in the future.”

Lamborghini’s current lineup is now fully hybridised, from the Urus SUV to the Temerario and Revuelto supercars, each pairing combustion muscle with electric assistance. The formula seems to be working. Last year Sant’Agata shifted a record 10,747 cars, with the Urus comfortably leading the charge.

Protecting The Brand’s Best Seller

The performance-focused SUV was supposed to enter a new generation in 2029, transitioning to a fully electric powertrain, but that is no longer the case. After speaking with customer groups, Lamborghini concluded that a battery-powered Urus would not exactly set its order books alight.

More: Lamborghini’s Next Surprise Might Be A V12 Supercar You Can Take Camping

According to Winkelmann, they simply couldn’t risk it with their best seller. The Urus is the brand’s financial backbone. Supercars may command higher margins, but they occupy what he calls a “tiny segment” compared with the Urus market, which is “bigger and more stable.” In other words, you do not gamble with the model that pays the bills.

Winkelmann also pointed to the regulatory road ahead. “We have a big task as an automotive industry. Everybody’s speaking about 2035, but there’s a big date which is very dangerous at 2030, due to the emissions. And this is something which is not clear enough, in my opinion, today.”

Dacia is Romania’s largest and most important car manufacturer, and this year it is preparing to expand its lineup in a meaningful way. Two all-new models are on the way, yet neither will actually be built in the company’s home market.

The first arrival will be a new wagon with crossover elements, currently known as the C-Neo. Positioned above the Jogger in Dacia’s range, it is intended to tap into the ever-growing compact segment.

Read: India’s New Renault Duster Looks Like A Rich Man’s Dacia Duster

Initially, Dacia planned to build the C-Neo in Romania. However, Romania-Insider reports that production will instead take place in Turkey. That decision leaves Dacia’s Mioveni plant in Romania focused exclusively on the Duster and Bigster.

SHproshots

The C-Neo will be underpinned by the existing CMF-B platform and should be offered with a slew of different powertrains, including gas, LPG, mild-hybrid, and full-hybrid options that use a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder.

Visually, Dacia says the new wagon will follow in the footsteps of the Sandero Stepway with rugged design elements, likely including muscular fenders and roof rails.

A New Electric City Car

Just as significant is Dacia’s upcoming electric vehicle, which will be based on the Renault Twingo. It will not undercut the China-built Dacia Spring on price, but it is expected to start at around €18,000 or just over $20,000. That still positions it as one of the more accessible EV options in Europe. Production of this new addition will take place at Dacia’s Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia.

Dacia has identified the A-segment as an important growth driver in the broader EV market, hence why it’s launching a new model to compete. A single teaser image of the car has been released, revealing that while the proportions may be similar to the Twingo, it will look nothing like its French sibling.

Beyond these new models, Dacia already produces the Sandero and Jogger in Morocco to take advantage of the lower manufacturing costs. The approach reflects how the brand now operates as an international manufacturer, not one anchored solely to its Romanian base.

In September last year, Nissan revealed it was preparing a new cut-price version of the 2026 Leaf for the US, known simply as the Leaf S. The announcement signaled a renewed push toward true entry-level electric mobility. This model was expected to start at just $25,360, significantly undercutting the competition and bringing an affordable EV within reach of many more buyers.

Sadly, this model is nowhere to be seen and may have been dropped entirely. Last week, Nissan confirmed that the entry-level Leaf S will not launch this year as originally planned. While it said the car has not been canceled, at least not at this stage, there is no guarantee it will ever see the light of day.

Read: Nissan Beats Tesla To $25K EV Musk Said Would Never Happen

“Nissan continually evaluates market trends, customer preferences, and the evolving EV landscape to ensure we are focusing our resources where they create the most value,” Nissan US director of product communications Dominic Vizor told InsideEVs. “As part of that process, we have decided not to introduce the smaller‑battery variant of the 2026 Nissan LEAF in the U.S. this model year.”

Vizor added that Nissan remains “committed to delivering the right products at the right time,” adding that it “will continue to assess future battery configurations based on customer demand and segment needs.”

The Nissan Leaf S was supposed to launch with a 52 kWh battery pack, significantly smaller than the 75 kWh pack of other models. No range figure was announced, but it would likely have fallen to the low 200s, which would be enough for some but would no doubt fall short of those planning longer journeys. Existing Leaf models have a driving range of 288-303 miles (463-487 km).

Although Nissan didn’t pinpoint a specific reason for the Leaf S’s delay, beyond mentioning broad market trends and the “evolving EV landscape,” likely impacting the model’s financial viability are the import tariffs it would be subject to due to its Japanese origins.

Forget the cold, hard plastics and hose-down austerity usually associated with commercial vehicle interiors. Isuzu’s latest creation flips that script, turning its Multi Utility Vehicle into something that lets you park your living room almost anywhere, preferably somewhere with a view worth staring at.

The concept is based on the standard cab version of the Isuzu Elf, featuring a black exterior with gold accents and aerodynamic panels on the roof and sides. But the real talking point is what Isuzu has done with the cargo area out back.

More: You Can Buy Isuzu’s Wildest Concept, But You Better Have A Big Lawn

A gullwing door and a drop-down side panel swing open to reveal a snug space that looks more theatre set than box truck. There is a wooden floor, lashing rails, modular shelving and actual furniture. A drop-down table is set up for brewing your coffee of choice, best enjoyed from the comfort of a proper couch rather than a fold-out stool.

It feels tailor-made for a pop-up coffee shop, though in reality it would probably serve primarily as a promotional showpiece. In the accompanying video, one occupant seems perfectly content sipping his drink while watching the sun dip below the horizon.

The Elf MUV was created in collaboration with bodywork specialists Nippon Fruehauf and was exhibited at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2026. It is not heading for showrooms any time soon, but it highlights how much imagination can be squeezed out of a humble commercial vehicle.

What About The Other Rooms?

If you like the idea of escaping into nature but would rather bring more than a sofa, Isuzu has another answer. The Be-Cam GeoRoam sits somewhere between camper and motorhome and was developed with Nippon Tokushu Body.

This build rides on the wide-cab, long-wheelbase Elf, which frees up a far more generous rear section. It also throws in some proper adventure kit, including a bull bar, roof rack and extra LEDs, giving it a stance that says it is ready to head well past the campsite entrance.

More: Tiny Kei Truck Becomes A Real Tiny Home On Wheels

The interior looks like a mini apartment, with warm tones and plenty of wood surfaces. You get a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, a sofa that converts into a bed and a separate rear bedroom, complete with a projector for late-night film sessions.

The Rugged Workhorse

Isuzu has also rolled out a more work-focused take on the Elf. The Elfmio Cross Style Concept is a dropside pickup that swaps lounge vibes for a tougher look, helped along by new wheels and optional add-ons such as the rear metal frame. It is based on the Space Cab bodystyle, which means it can be driven in Japan with a standard driver’s license.

More: Isuzu’s New Pickup Is Luxury In The Front, Business In The Back

Across all three concepts, the mechanical bits are lifted straight from the regular Elf. That means a 3.0-liter turbodiesel paired with a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic and the option of 4WD. Output stands at either 148 hp or 173 hp. Alternatively, there is a zero-emission Elf powered by a 161 hp electric motor, drawing from a modular battery pack offered in 60, 100 or 180 kWh capacities.

Below are the official videos showcasing the different use-case scenarios. Which one would you take home?

Photos Isuzu / Tokyo Auto Salon

The loss of $7,500 federal tax credits should, in theory, have put every EV brand on an even footing, but Tesla and its customers decided to write their own script. While most electric car values have dropped since last fall, Tesla values are actually climbing.

According to a new study, used Tesla prices have risen 4.3 percent since the EV credit disappeared at the end of September 2025. Over the same period, nearly every other used EV dropped an average of 3.6 percent.

More: EV Sales Fell Off A Cliff, Yet New Car Prices Still Set Another Record

Because Teslas make up such a huge slice of the used EV pie, the average price of all used EVs actually went up 3.5 percent, painting a superficially rosy picture. Strip Tesla out of the equation and things look very different. Non-Tesla EVs slid from an average of $24,629 to $23,738. Meanwhile, used combustion cars dipped 2 percent.

Declining Share

The iSeeCars study also found that used EV market share fell 20 percent between September and January, dropping from 3.5 percent to 2.8 percent. A year earlier, that share had been climbing, but now it is heading the other way. The early adopters already have their EVs. Mainstream buyers are apparently thinking harder about price, charging, and range.

Average Prices For 1- To 5-Year-Old Used Cars

Look at individual models and the pattern gets clearer. Lower-cost EVs like the Hyundai Kona Electric, Volkswagen ID.4, Kia Niro EV and Nissan Leaf all lost between roughly five and six percent of their value. Meanwhile Tesla Model 3 and Model Y prices ticked up, as did those for the Porsche Taycan, the only non-Tesla EV to experience a jump in values.

New EV Prices Down

New EVs tell a similar story. Excluding Tesla, which iSeeCars doesn’t have data for, average new EV prices dropped 2.3 percent, while new internal combustion vehicles rose 2.5 percent. Some mainstream EVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Chevrolet Equinox EV saw even steeper cuts.

Carmakers are clearly trying to replace that vanished tax credit with old fashioned discounting, but falling EV sales figures since tax credits disappeared tells us it’s not a complete fix.

Average Used EV Prices

Average New EV Prices

Spend five minutes around a modern car, especially an electric one, and you will notice something curious. Door handles have morphed into design statements, tech showcases, and sometimes awkward little puzzle games that feel one step away from becoming a liability.

Some pop out theatrically, some sit flush until summoned, others attempt both, and an increasing number rely entirely on electronic latches that only function when the car has full power. Toyota’s new Highlander appears ready to break new ground with a hidden feature few will notice at first.

More: China Officially Bans Pop-Out Door Handles, And The World May Follow

During our time up close and personal with the SUV, one small feature stood out. The main exterior handle leverages a small pad to activate an electric door latch. That’s not groundbreaking, but what’s next to it might be.

Did You Notice The Tiny Tab?

Photos Stephen Rivers/Carscoops

Inside of the stationary recessed door handle lies a tiny tab. Roughly the size of a postage stamp, it’s designed to be pulled independently by someone outside the car, including, knock on wood, emergency crews. Unlike the main handle, the tiny piece has a clear pictogram suggesting it’s a manual release.

Read: The New 2027 Toyota Highlander Drops Gas And Goes All-Electric

Next to it is a removable section for a keyhole. Getting into this electric SUV, should it ever lose power, is as easy as inserting a key, engaging the manual latch, and pulling on it. Notably, the pull tab did nothing for us when we were in person and tinkering around with it.

Photos Stephen Rivers/Carscoops

Toyota clarified to Carscoops that the prototypes didn’t have functional versions of the handle. The production car will work via a two-step process. Pull once, and the tab will unlock the door. Pull twice, and it’ll manually open the door. That’s clever, and it’s worth noting that it’s not just the exterior handles that have this sort of feature.

Manual Backups Built In

The inside handles are similar to the ones we’ve seen on Lexus vehicles for some time. Users can push the door button for the electric latch to release, or they can pull it to manually open the latch. That’s just one more piece of safety baked into the all-new Highlander.

More: Trapped Tesla Owner Couldn’t Find The Door Release And Now Feds Want Answers

In a world where even door handles have gone digital, a simple mechanical fallback feels less like nostalgia and more like common sense. Toyota’s solution is not flashy, and it does not need to be. As cars pile on electronics for even the most basic tasks, a simple physical solution may turn out to be the smartest feature of all.